Car Camping / Trip Reports / Photos / Buildouts / “Overland” / Expedition Rigs Area (homeless?)

Totally. To my understanding the country has been road tripping and RV'ing for a long time. The rigs are just changing and finally people are seeing they don't need big campers anymore. Hell, my folks are not the outdoors type and we even had a pop-up camper when young. Now people are making due with less and calling it overlanding. It's still just road tripping and camping for most people. We've been doing vehicle based exploring and camping as a country for a long time. Now the rigs are getting more capable.

 

Super trendy. I usually just say I'm going camping

 

not up to date..

 

Yep. Either going wheeling with some camping or camping with some wheeling.

 

Sleeping in the truck, just like we did with our folks when we were kids.

 

Sounds like a perfect Australian Toyota Commercial!!

 

That's a Pelican 1650...

 

This is probably the perfect Australian Toyota commercial.

 

@mach1man001

I've got a Gander Mountain version I'll give you a good deal on. We never use it because it is actually a bit of a PITA to break down and put back together. We actually use the bags but not the table. Hit me up if you are interested, I'll send you pics and what not and send it to you for $50 shipped.

 

In my early days I backpacked, camped and road tripped all over the US. My GF (now wife for 36 years) enjoyed some of this time as well. Then marriage and the family started. Early on we took the kids camping as well, they enjoyed the outdoors and all it has to offer. I truly believe they learned to be better adults through these adventures. Life got busy with work, kids, kid sports (all through college) and just shit in general. It was a give and take for me. Unfortunately camping was one of the things we just didn't have time for. I don't regret it a bit.

Fast forward. The kids are grown, on their own and don't need mom and dad (much anyway) any more. So Camping and exploring was something the wife I wanted to start back up. We damn near bought a trailer but thought it might limit us for our style. We did know one thing and that was we didn't want to be sleeping on the ground. So the RTT happened and the Tacoma and all happy stuff that goes with it. It's turning out to be quite the hobby and we love it. I'm really blessed to have a wife that enjoys some of things I do. Camping, exploring, overlanding whatever you want to call it is our new thing we do together. We can hardly wait for our grandson to be able wipe his own ass so he can tag along as well!

I like the way you think!

 

I dont disagree with you guys but as far as marketing and stuff goes most people aren't as knowledgeable as we are and don't know the things we do. Like I said, I offroad or wheel with a tent on. But these groups are becoming popular regardless of what we think. Either way we arent any better than them just because we know its been around for a while and don't call it overlanding

 

I always just tell people I'm nomadic and vehicle borne most of the time. Between couches/floors I'm just "traveling" but that so happens to be sleeping on BLM land and in Forests haha.

 

DAMNIT! YES WE ARE!!

 

Ok, fine we are.

 

All I care about is getting past the socks with sandals/fanny pack crowd after a couple miles of dirt is too much for them. My only concern with the "Overlanding" craze is that more and more disrespectful people will travel further and further into the backcountry. I am happy to see people get outside and explore more, it's the only way they will fight to protect the wilds from being developed but when there is a huge up swing in visitation its often detrimental to the wildlife. My two cents anyway!

 

I have just as much fun in pavement campgrounds as I do in the middle of nowhere. Just different fun.

I love being with friends and partying in campgrounds since most of them drive practical LA cars and can't make it elsewhere.


But I also love when just my girlfriend and I hit a sight like this and nobody bothers us for days.

 

An attitude like this will never get you an #EAF merit badge.

 

My family growing up just called it camping with style and no reason not to eat the same dinner out camping as at home. Slackers eat ramen and oatmeal.